From Foxsports AU.....
Racing To Win in track mishap
By Ray Thomas
August 24, 2006 A CLOUD hangs over the participation of Doncaster Handicap winner Racing To Win in the Warwick Stakes at randwick on Saturday after he was involved in a freak accident at trackwork yesterday morning.
Three horses, including Racing To Win and promising stayer Sepia, stumbled and fell in separate incidents when a drain gave way around the 800-metres mark on the cinders trotting track.
Two trackwork riders were also injured.
Racing To Win, the third favourite for the Cox Plate, will be inspected again this morning after removing some skin from his off-fore knee.
Trainer John O'Shea yesterday hoped the gelding would still take his place in the Group II feature, but he said he would act in the best interests of the horse.
"He's got a bit of wear and tear on him but I don't think it will keep him out of Saturday's race," O'Shea said.
"He's been inspected a few times already and I have notified the stewards, who will inspect him on Friday."
Racing To Win spent some time recovering from the fall at the beach yesterday, and O'Shea said the horse appeared to have suffered no harm from the incident.
The Graeme Rogerson-trained Sepia was the first horse involved in the remarkable incident when he was working on the cinders track about 5.30am.
The ground gave way as the horse walked over the concealed drain, leaving a hole in the middle of the track.
About half an hour later, Racing To Win stumbled as he stepped over the same spot on the track.
A third horse, trained by Anthony Cummings, also put a foot in the same hole, but it and Sepia were unharmed.
"Sepia was trotting around on the dirt and he put his foot down and it gave way underneath him and he fell over," Rogerson said.
"Thank goodness he fell over because if he didn't he might have broken his leg.
"You wouldn't believe that two more horses could do it, too."
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